Pakistan rape victim’s blog makes waves

Michelle Bradt

9/8/06

Current Events 4

In the BBC News article by Dan Isaacs entitled “Pakistan rape victim’s blog makes waves,” the author tells the story of Mukhtar Mai, a Pakistani woman who was gang-raped by order of local elders from the next villager over. Mai, who was raped in 2002, now regularly blogs in her diary through an Urdu speaking link on BBC News. She tells of her circumstances surrounding the rape, including the trial that followed the incident where she saw the conviction of several of the culprits, but which was overturned later in a Lahore court. In her blog, Mai also talks about issues related to rural live for women and about other concerns she has for the women in the region. With the money she has received from the courts, Mai has started several schools in the area, which the article suggests (but never explicitly says) are girls’ schools only.

When I learned of this woman, I was reminded of the last article I read and wrote about for current events. Betty Chishava in Zimbabwe has an equal in Pakistan, doing justice for women and righting the many wrongs that have worked their way into the traditions of cultures and into the hearts and minds of women. Rape is not unique to Pakistan, the Middle-East, or the eastern hemisphere. This is not an issue that can be ascribed to some part of a culture that we don’t understand as westerners. It happens here, at UNCG. Women are globally thought of as weaker than men, and for this reason, they are often the victims of horrible crimes. Women like Mukhtar Mai are doing their part to fight this social injustice. It might not be possible to change the thinking of the global population, but with such people working on educating the world, it will be possible to hold those responsible who act on such debasing thoughts.


Isaacs, Dan. Sept. 8 2006. “Pakistan rape victim’s blog makes waves.” BBC News online. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5323858.stm